12.50
pratigraha kabhu na karibe raja-dhana
visayira anna khaile dusta haya mana
SYNONYMS
pratigraha—acceptance of alms; kabhu—at any time; na—not; karibe—should do; raja-dhana—charity by kings; visayira—of men who are materialistic; anna—food; khaile—by eating; dusta—polluted; haya—becomes; mana—mind "Advaita Acarya, My spiritual master, should never accept charity from rich men or kings because if a spiritual master accepts money or grains from such materialists his mind becomes polluted.
PURPORT
It is very risky to accept money or food from materialistic persons, for such acceptance pollutes the mind of the charity’s recipient.
According to the Vedic system, one should give charity to sannyasis and brahmanas because one who thus gives charity becomes free from sinful activities.
Formerly, therefore, brahmanas would not accept charity from a person unless he were very pious.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave this instruction for all spiritual masters.
Materialistic persons who are not inclined to give up their sinful activities like illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating sometimes want to become our disciples, but, unlike professional spiritual masters who accept disciples regardless of their condition, Vaisnavas do not accept such cheap disciples.
One must at least agree to abide by the rules and regulations for a disciple before a Vaisnava acarya can accept him.
In fact, a Vaisnava should not even accept charity or food from persons who do not follow the rules and regulations of the Vaisnava principles.